Recovery is funded by a mix of federal and state resources. 

They include funds approved by the governor, state Legislature, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For a full list of resources, visit the Recovery funding page. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help communities recover from natural disasters.

CDBG-DR approved projects support disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure, housing and economic revitalization. CDBG-DR funds can also be used to match other federal program allocations, such as FEMA Hazard Mitigation and FEMA Public Assistance, both of which require a 25% local match. 

HUD has allocated two CDBG-DR grants to the County for the 2018 eruption. Notices published in the Federal Register require the County and other CDBG-DR recipients to use the allocations to address the unmet housing recovery need before spending the funds on other uses. 

A number of activities are considered ineligible for CDBG-DR funds, including:

• Projects that do not correspond to disaster-related impacts;
• Restrictions as identified in the appropriation law;
• Ineligible per CDBG regulations unless waived, e.g. vertical construction;
• Does not meet national CDBG objectives;
• HUD policies may restrict the type of projects allowed, e.g. facilities in Lava Hazard Zones 1 & 2.

More information on HUD's CDBG-DR Program can be found on the HUD website.

In December 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced appropriations of $83.84 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Release of funds requires completion of an Action Plan and a Grant Agreement, among other steps. 

In August 2020, it was announced that the County will receive an additional $23.72 million in CDBG-DR funds. HUD published a notice in the Federal Register on Jan. 6, 2021, allocating the funds. An amendment to the Action Plan to incorporate this funding was submitted and approved. 

Eligible state or local governments are allocated funds through a Congressional appropriation, but must also submit a variety of forms and documents to obtain access to these funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Those include: 

• A Certification Plan, which shows that the state or local government has the systems and processes in place to manage grant funds and guard against duplication of benefits, fraud and abuse.
• An Implementation Plan, which details that the state or local government has a plan to build the additional staffing capacity needed to implement the grant funds.
• An Action Plan, which details the disaster impacts, unmet needs, programs and projects identified for grant implementation. 
• Public Comment Period. The applicant is required to make the Action Plan available for public review and comment. That period is from July 20, 2020, through Aug. 18, 2020.
• Action Plan Approval. HUD must accept and approve the Action Plan.
• Grant Agreement. The awardee and HUD execute a grant agreement detailing disbursement of grant funds and monthly reporting requirements. 
• DRGR Plan. A detailed spending plan is uploaded to HUD's grant management platform for approval prior to the initial draw down of CDBG-DR funds.

HUD published a notice in the Federal Register in January 2020 for CDBG-DR funding, including the County's portion of $83.84 million. The County submitted its Initial Action Plan on Aug. 31, 2020. HUD approved the Action Plan on Oct. 15, 2020. The County will amend its Action Plan following additional public comment to account for a separate $23.72 million CDBG-DR grant allocated in January 2021.

The Kīlauea disaster recovery team launched the Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program in 2020 to provide funds through nonprofit agencies in order to address physical damages or losses from the eruption. The application deadline for this program was July 24, 2020.

An additional grant program known as Puna Strong was launched on Jan. 7, 2021. The deadline for letters of interest was Feb. 15, 2021.  

A 2013 amendment to the Stafford Act added Section 428, which authorizes "alternative procedures" under the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program.  

Funding authorized through this program can be used to replace infrastructure impacted by a disaster or for alternative infrastructure projects. This flexibility allows applicants to use funds in a way that best meets their needs for recovery, long-term resiliency and future preparedness. 

Hawai‘i County is receiving FEMA 428 money for roads, water and park infrastructure projects. FEMA funds require a 25% County match.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) addressed this question in Volcano Watch articles on Oct. 31, 2019, and Feb. 28, 2019. 

According to HVO, lava flows from the 2018 eruption could take months to years to fully solidify, depending on the thickness. Lava flows are considered solid when they reach a temperature of 1,560 degrees Fahrenheit.   

Preliminary analyses of the 2018 LERZ eruption flow thicknesses, suggest that the average flow thickness is around 10–15 m (33–50 ft). Based on the cooling rate calculation, it could take roughly 8 months to 1.5 years for flows of these thicknesses to solidify.

Solidification of flows ranging 20–30 m (65–100 ft) thick could take about 2.5–6 years. The thickest LERZ flows on land, which are approximately 55 m (180 ft) thick, may take roughly 20 years to reach a completely solid state.

While the surface of the flow field is cool to the touch, temperatures can remain hot enough underneath to produce steam. Flows of between 10-15 meters (33-50 feet) thick could take 3-4 years to cool below the boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) at all depths, according to an HVO model that estimates the impacts of rainfall on cooling. A flow that is 25 meters (82 feet) thick could take 7 years to get below the boiling point all the way through, under that model.

Natural

• 13.7 square miles or 8,488 acres inundated with lava
• 875 acres new land created along shoreline
• 500 acres of forest reserve destroyed
• 80 anchialine pools inundated
• Loss of Kapoho Bay and Wai‘ōpae Tidepools Marine Life Conservation 
  District
• Pu’ala’a low-land rainforest and historic fishing village destroyed
• Ahalanui Beach Park destroyed
• Kīlauea summit collapse
• Approximately 1 cubic kilometer of lava erupted; two-thirds from Fissure 8

Housing

• 1,770 total parcels impacted
• 1,579 inundated parcels
• 612 residences destroyed
• 111 "other" structures destroyed
• 39 inundated agricultural lots
• 19 homes remaining in isolation
• 808 vacant parcels inundated
• Estimated 3,000 residents initially displaced during eruption
• $296 million in home losses

Infrastructure

• Estimated $236.5 million in damages to public infrastructure.
• 32.3 miles of roads inundated, including nearly 13 miles of public roads.
• 14.5 miles of waterlines destroyed.
• Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School destroyed.
• 900 utility poles destroyed
• 2 geothermal wells inundated; 1 isolated
• 1 electrical substation isolated
• 1 water well isolated

Economic

• 2,950 jobs lost
• $415 million in revenue lost inland-wide
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park closure: $99.4 million in economic loss
• $27.9 million farm losses resulting in decreased agriculture and floriculture production
• Decreased tourism revenue and adjustments to marketing and products

For the latest information, visit the Road Access page. 

Lighthouse Road provides access to Kumukahi, the eastern most point in Hawaii. The area includes additional natural and cultural resources, such as a newly formed beach and burials.

About 900 feet of Lighthouse Road was covered by lava and the road remains closed at this time.

As part of the recovery effort, the County plans to restore Lighthouse Road after appropriate management measures are in place to ensure the protection of wahi kūpuna (ancestral places). This includes consulting with lineal descendants and property owners. After careful consideration and input from the community, this portion of the Kīlauea Recovery Road and Waterline Project will be moved to the last phase to allow additional time for a protection plan to be put in place before the road opens. 

For more information, visit the Road Access and Ocean Access pages.

For the latest update on Highway 137, please visit our regularly-updated Road Access page. 

The Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply (DWS) lost use of two reservoirs and about 14.5 miles of pipeline as a result of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The water line went to Isaac Hale Beach Park via Pohoiki Road and followed Highway 137 to the Kapoho subdivisions, which were inundated. 

A damage assessment placed the cost of replacing the lost infrastructure at about $40 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is covering 75% of that amount, or about $30 million.

For a full list of proposed projects, visit the Water Infrastructure page. 

There are three main documents that were produced to guide recovery following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption: a Recovery and Resilience Plan, Volcanic Risk Assessment, and an Economic Recovery Plan. The documents incorporate broad-based community engagement and technical data that will help Puna and the island as a whole become more resilient to natural hazards. 

What do the plans do?

The Recovery and Resilience Plan facilitates recovery in the short and long term, and identify recovery strategies and projects that support impacted areas while mitigating risks from volcanic hazards.

The Volcanic Risk Assessment takes a look at all volcanic hazards across Hawai‘i Island and identifies recommendations for mitigation. The risk assessment helps inform the recovery plan.

The Economic Recovery Plan looks at economic damages caused by the 2018 eruption and Hurricane Lane and provides recommendations for improving the economy of Puna and the island as a whole.

The process for decisions related to legal authorities of the County includes reaching consensus among County departments and the administration about key decisions after gathering and incorporating community input and technical data. The County is also supporting community-led recovery initiatives and projects as a partner. 

For more information on the planning process, visit the planning page. 

Recovery is a long-term, iterative process – meaning that recovery takes place in multiple phases, with each phase informing activities in subsequent phases. Recovery can take anywhere from 5-10 years, depending on the scale and duration of the disaster. 

The 2018 Kīlauea Eruption in the Lower East Rift Zone was unprecedented in scale and speed, resulting in extensive displacement of families and businesses, and the disruption of businesses throughout the Island of Hawaiʻi. 

Recovery began in June 2018 and will involve continuing efforts to meet immediate and near-term needs, as well as long-term planning and implementation. 

Events and impacts of this magnitude result in a "new normal" and present an opportunity to refresh and renew families, communities, and the environment.

There are a few actions you can take to protect your property from trespassers and liability:

• Private property should be clearly marked with 'No Trespassing' signs.
• Reports of trespassing should be reported promptly to the police along with available evidence and a request to press charges. 
• Consult with an attorney to understand the extent of your liabilities and possible options.

The County's Voluntary Housing Buyout Program (VHBP) will purchase eligible properties affected by the 2018 eruption.

The buyout application process is divided into the following three phases. For more information, visit the Housing Buyout Program page. The VHBP program is no longer accepting applications.

• Phase 1: Primary residences
  • Applications accepted from April 30, 2021, through July 30, 2021.

• Phase 2: Secondary residences (including long-term rental properties)
  • Applications accepted from Nov. 1, 2021, through Jan. 31, 2022.

• Phase 3: Undeveloped properties
  • Applications accepted from July 18, 2022, through October 31, 2022.

Eligible properties include those that were inundated or isolated by lava, suffered physical damage (including from fires and wildfires caused by lava), or have been physically impacted by secondary effects, including heat and gases at their property.

Additional threshold factors to determine eligibility for the VHBP include:

• All applicants must have owned their property prior to the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and must currently own their property. Applicants must be able to demonstrate clear ownership of the property.
• Applicants qualifying their property as a primary home must provide proof that they resided in the structure at the time of the disaster as a primary home.
• Applicant must be current on property taxes or current on an approved payment plan (including exemptions under current law). Any remaining liens on the property will be cleared at closing, including any liens and outstanding homeowner association (HOA) dues.
• Property qualifying as a primary or second home must have had an eligible structure prior to the disaster. Eligible structures for the VHBP must have served as dwelling units. Structures do not have to have been permitted prior to the eruption to be eligible for this program.

Applicants applying for disaster assistance, through the VHBP, will be processed according to the following phases and priorities. Late applications will be processed during subsequent phases. A weighting, or point system, will also be implemented to assist in the ranking of properties to be acquired. It is important to note that the application period has ended and the VHBP is no longer accepting applications.

Phase 1 -- Primary Residences

• Applications accepted from April 30, 2021, through July 30, 2021.

Phase 2 -- Secondary Residences

• Applications accepted from Nov. 1, 2021, through Jan. 31, 2022.

Phase 3 -- Undeveloped Properties

• Applications accepted from July 18, 2022, through October 31, 2022.

Phasing is based on use at the time of the eruption. 

Within each phase, applications will be prioritized based on the following criteria: 

Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Households 

Hawai‘i County will prioritize LMI applicants over non-LMI applicants. HUD requires that at least 70% of program funding must serve LMI households. LMI eligibility will be specific to each qualifying household and based on verification of each applicant’s household income.  

Damage Status 

Damage for properties will also be given different levels for prioritization. Properties with significant inundation or isolation will be the largest weight in the point system, followed by properties with significant damage, and then partial damage.  

Road Access 

The County will rank properties without road access to be restored over those with road access to be restored. 

Household are considered low- to moderate-income (LMI) if the household income is 80% or less of the area median income. The chart below identified the maximum amount a household can earn to qualify as LMI based on household size. These income levels are updated each year.

Phase 3 included primary and secondary homes, long-term rentals, and the newest addition of undeveloped properties. The VHBP is no longer accepting applications.

If the property served as a full-time vacation rental and the owner did not reside on the property for any portion of the year, then the property would not qualify. In this circumstance, the vacation rental would be considered a business. Businesses are not eligible for the Voluntary Housing Buyout Program.

Properties that were used as short-term rentals may qualify if:

• The owner used the property as a primary residence.
• The owner resided on the property for the greater of:
  • 14 days a year, or
  • more than 10% of the total days the property is rented.

Completion of sale is anticipated to take nine months to a year following the intake appointment with VHBP staff. 

Buyout offers will be based on the pre-disaster (2017) Real Property Tax appraised total market value of the property (land and structures) with a limit of $230,000 for primary, $142,000 for secondary homes/long term rentals, and $22,000 for undeveloped properties. To review the appraised market values, visit www.hawaiipropertytax.com.

Following release of the draft Initial Community Development Block Grant Disaster-Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan, the recovery team worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to clarify the application of duplication of benefits for the VHBP. HUD has confirmed the following will not count as duplicative, meaning receiving these forms of assistance won’t reduce buyout grant amounts:  

• Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance for rental assistance, home repairs, or housing replacement; 
• U.S. Small Business Administration loans for home repairs, housing reconstruction, housing relocation, or other approved purposes; 
• Private insurance payouts for loss of structure and/or contents;
• Private sources such as grants for home repairs or in-kind assistance.  

'Necessary and Reasonable' 

The County must conduct an individualized review of each applicant to determine that the amount of assistance the applicant is eligible for will not cause a duplication of benefits by exceeding the unmet needs of that applicant. Even if no duplication of benefits is identified, program costs and grant awards must abide by cost principles and are required to be “necessary and reasonable.” Applicants are required to provide information on all sources of disaster recovery assistance to help determine whether any assistance may be duplicative and that CDBG-DR assistance is necessary and reasonable.

For example, if an applicant has unspent funds that were received for disaster recovery assistance, or if those funds were not used for their intended purpose, then deductions for a duplication of benefits may apply.   

The County understands that applicant benefits can be a moving target with additional funds received much later than initial payouts or due to appeals and litigation. Further, all funding sources may not be known at the time of application.

Yes, to be eligible for a buyout, an applicant must have owned the property prior to the eruption and still own the property. 

Properties that meet the criteria for the voluntary housing buyout program would be eligible for a buyout even if the home on the property may not have been permitted. During the intake and application process, we will assess with the applicants whether a home existed before the eruption and the applicant would need to demonstrate that it was being used as a residence at the time to be considered a primary dwelling.  

If structures or other improvements (such as utilities and driveways) remain on the property, they will be demolished after being purchased.

The County may continue to manage these properties or can explore opportunities where appropriate to provide access agreements to former owners while maintaining the compatible open space uses; to preserve sites of cultural significance; to provide for maintenance agreements; to transfer title to a community association or land stewardship group for the maintenance and use of these properties in a way that is compatible with open space uses; or to lease lands for agricultural uses that are productive in the eruption areas and require a minimal investment in crops or infrastructure that could be lost to a future eruption. Responsible management of these properties is critical to the long-term recovery of communities impacted by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.